Library-based scheme working to decrease antisocial behaviour amongst young people in Sighthill area of Edinburgh has won the 2006 CILIP / LiS Libraries Change Lives Award.

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News from CILIP
26 April 2006
For immediate release (Please copy to online discussion lists)

Library-based scheme working to decrease antisocial behaviour amongst young people in Sighthill area of Edinburgh has won the 2006 CILIP/LiS Libraries Change Lives Award.

Winner of the 2006 CILIP/LiS Libraries Change Lives Award announced

The library service at the Sighthill area of Edinburgh has won the prestigious 2006 CILIP/LiS Libraries Change Lives Award announced on 26 April 2006 at the Library + information Show (LiS), The Pavilion, Birmingham by poet John Hegley.

For several years, the library service at Sighthill in Edinburgh had suffered from an increasing amount of antisocial behaviour involving young people. The staff team, together with a number of key partners, tackled problems head on by adopting an inclusive and ground-breaking approach to working with excluded children and teenagers.

From being plagued by disruptive behaviour, under-age drinking and vandalism, they endeavoured to engage more positively with young people. Together with many partners, including Lothian and Borders Police and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, they delivered a programme of imaginative reading, IT and arts activities such as a Computer Crazies Club, a football literacy project and graffiti arts events. Since then, the trouble in the area has dropped dramatically - a 60% reduction in recorded antisocial incidents in the community and the library has won an award from the Scottish Executive Standing Up To Antisocial Behaviour Scheme.

The project successfully removed barriers that were contributing to the social exclusion of young people in Sighthill, giving them the opportunity to access services that have helped them to develop reading, literacy, learning and life skills.

Evelyn Kilmurry, senior library officer for the team said: "In our community of West Edinburgh, where rates of unemployment and anti-social behaviour are one of highest in the city, we have transformed the Sighthill Library into a welcoming and inviting venue for a youth population that had previously been excluded from other community facilities. It is a true privilege to be honoured by the Libraries Change Lives Award."

Cllr Ricky Henderson, Executive Member of Sport, Culture and Leisure for the City of Edinburgh Council, said, "We are very proud of the work accomplished at Sighthill Library. The team there has made a real difference in the lives of many young people."

Nigel Thomas, Chair of the judge's comments on this year's winner. "Everybody on the judging panel was bowled over by the passion and commitment that had gone into this project. The project was so positive, every library authority can learn something from it."

This is the 14th year of the national award that recognises innovative and exciting work in libraries and their communities. The award was established in 1992 to acknowledge and reward libraries and information services working with disadvantaged groups to combat inequality, including the unemployed, homeless, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities

Since its inception, the award has had a significant impact on the world of libraries and their local communities across the UK. Previous winners include Bookstart, the Government-backed scheme which was first piloted by Birmingham Libraries and now reaches 2 million babies and their parents across the UK and has been recognised as making a significant difference to literacy and numeracy levels in primary schools. Another scheme, the Big Book Share, winner of the Libraries Change Lives Award in 2002 has been successful in helping fathers in prison to keep contact with their children through reading to them on tapes.

The winner of the award will be announced by performance poet John Hegley on 26 April 2006 at the Library + information Show (LiS), The Pavilion, NEC, Birmingham. The Library + information Show (LiS) takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 26 and 27 April 06.

Now in its 17th year, it caters for all sectors of the library profession, bringing the library and information world together to share key industry developments, the latest technology, exchange ideas and debate current issues. For more information please visit: www.lishow.co.uk

The Sighthill project will receive a trophy and £5,000 prize money. The two runners-up both receive a cheque for £2,000. The two runners-up projects are: Multicultural Development Service - Lincolnshire County Council and Books on the Edge - Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council. This year's judges are: Nigel Thomas (Chair) from Leicestershire Libraries, Terry Turner, Chief Executive of Eastern England Museums, Carole Wolstenholme from Lancashire Libraries and Nigel Clear, Event Director for LiS.

The award is sponsored by the Library + information Show. The event is organised and administered by CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals and its Community Service Group.

Contact: Philippa Perry at Philippa Perry Associates
Tel: 020 8741 5455 or 07774 264826 Email: mailto:[log in to unmask]

Louisa Myatt
Tel: 020 7255 0650 Email: mailto:[log in to unmask]

Notes to Editors:

For case studies or to speak to any of the people involved in the projects, please contact: Philippa Perry (details above).

1.Details of winning library scheme

SIGHTHILL LIBRARY YOUTH WORK
Edinburgh City Libraries and Information Service
Contact: Morag Ingram, Media and Communications Officer- 0131 529 4430
Email: mailto:[log in to unmask]

2. CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers. It forms a community of around 35,000 people engaged in library and information work, of whom around 23,000 are CILIP members and around 12,000 are regular customers of CILIP Enterprises.

CILIP members work in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries. For more information about CILIP, please go to www.cilip.org.uk.

3. VNU Exhibitions Europe: is a B2B information provider specialising in producing highly focused trade exhibitions for the information technology, telecommunications and information industries.

For more information, please visit: www.vnuexhibitions.co.uk
For information about LiS and VNU Exhibitions, contact: Nyree Hughes at VNU on 020 7316 9625. Email: mailto:[log in to unmask]

4. Two runners up library projects were:
• Books on the Edge - Blackburn and Darwen Borough Council
• Multicultural Development Service - Lincolnshire County Council

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